The sustainability of the urban layer of e-commerce deliveries: the Belgian collection and delivery point networks

Joris Beckers and Ann Verhetsel

European Planning Studies, 2021, vol. 29, issue 12, 2300-2319

Abstract: The increase in at-home deliveries of online ordered goods has led to a rise in urban logistics facilities. One such facility in particular, the collection and delivery point (CDP), is an increasingly popular delivery option amongst carriers and holds the promise of more sustainable e-commerce logistics. A prerequisite to achieve this promise is that the pick-up trip occurs in an environmentally friendly manner. By delineating 1 km catchment areas – the car is the preferred transportation mode for longer distances – we test whether the current Belgian CDP networks encourage this type of pick-up. We find that only one courier catches just over half of the population within walking distance of its points and conclude that the current network set-ups thus jeopardize the sustainability promise. We attribute this finding to a quality over quantity mindset by logistics companies when expanding their network. However, the fact that 75% of the points’ walkable catchment areas overlap paves the way towards the installation of shared CDPs. As this solution would improve the sustainability of the delivery alternative, we urge urban governments to facilitate the process towards these multi-carrier CDPs, for example by providing supporting infrastructure or by safeguarding dedicated spaces in urban plans.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2021.1921118

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